A    WHISPER   OF  FIRE 


"For  each  one  of  us  has  that  within  him  which 
needs  only  to  be  kindled  to  become  fire,  and  only 
to  be  blown  upon  to  flame;  and  when  it  has 
blazed  there  is  no  quenching  it;  but  it  must  burn 
and  burn  forever.  And  whatsoever  it  touches  it 
makes  clean ;  and  its  ashes  are  not  dead  but  shall 
live  again." 


A  WHISPER    OF   FIRE 


By  Agnes  Ryan 


BOSTON 

THE  FOUR  SEAS  COMPANY 
1919 


Copyright,  1919,  by 

THE   FOUR    SEAS    COMPANY 


The  Four  Seas  Press 
Boston,  Mass.,  U.  S.  A. 


SRLF 
YRL 


CONTENTS 

Page 

WOOD 

THE  HOUR  GLASS         .     .     ...   •  ;••    .     .  n 

WOMAN .     .     .     ;     .  12 

HUNGRY-HEARTED .  13 

LONELY  HEART 14 

RESTORE  ME      .     .     .....     *     .  15 

IT  Is  TIME  .     .     .     ...     ...     .  16 

KINDLING 

THE  ABYSS 19 

A  MISTAKE?      .      .    ...     ,\.     ....  20 

THE  STARRY  NIGHT     .......  21 

ELEMENTAL       .     .     .•     .     ...     .     .  22 

SMOLDERING 

PUNISHED     .     .     ......     ,     .  25 

BETRAYED     .     .     .  -  .     .     .....     .  26 

ALONE "...     ...    ....  27 

MY  LITTLE  FIRE     .     .......  28 

LITTLE  HOUSE  .     .     .     .     .     .     .     .     .  29 

DESOLATE-HEART     .    -.     ..>....     .  30 

[51 


CONTENTS 

Page 

SMOKE 

MY  LITTLE  CHAIN 33 

THE  RIDDLE 34 

AN  IRON  RING 35 

LET  ME  Go 36 

THE  BURNING  PATH 37 

SLIPPING  AWAY      ....           ...  38 

CHILDREN 39 

FAITH 40 

BLAZE 

LISTEN          45 

THE  ROSE 46 

FAIRER?         47 

AWAY 48 

GOOD  NIGHT 49 

GYPSY  DAYS 50 

SMOKE  AGAIN 

OLD          53 

THE  HOME-CLUTCH 54 

A  BONNY  LITTLE  FIRE 55 

MY  PRETTY  HAIR 56 

HOME 57 

DEAD  FAITH 58 

O  NIGHT 59 

WHEN 60 

[6] 


CONTENTS 

Page 

MOODS 61 

EARTH 62 

FLAME 

INVINCIBLE        .65 

ADVERSITY 66 

BROWN  BIRDS 67 

AN  INVITATION ..68 

MY  BODY 69 

MARRIED 70 

TRAMPING          .....     .     , ..;  j     .  71 

THE  TASTE  OF  FIRE     .......  72 

THE  MIRACLE    .     .     .     ...     .     .     .  73 

COME      .     .     .     ....     .     •     •     •  74 

SYMPATHY         .     .     ...     .     .     .     .  75 

THE  SAVIOR       .     ......     .     .     .  76 

THE  SLAYER 77 

THE  SADDEST  PERSON  .     .     .     .    v     .     .  78 

MY  LOVER 79 

UNMEASURED     .     ,  ^  .     .'• 80 

GOD-MAGIC         .     .     .     .     ;     .     .     .      .  81 

COALS 

YOUNG  HEART  . 85 

WARM  HANDS   .           86 

THE  SCYTHE 87 

Six  O'CLOCK     . 88 

[71 


CONTENTS 

Page 

YOUR  FOOTSTEP 90 

MY  GARDEN 91 

COURAGE 92 

CHURCH        93 

THE  FULL  EAR 94 

REST        95 

COMING  HOME 96 

THE  CORN 97 

I  WONDER 98 

COMPANY 99 

ASHES 

THE  WIND  .                      103 

EVERY  NIGHT          104 

THE  FIRE-FLY 105 

THE  BATH 106 

THE  ELECTRIC  LIGHT 107 

A  SEED 108 

SMOKE 109 

MY  A  B  C's no 

BLEST in 

Now  You  GUESS                                          ,  112 


[8] 


Wood 


THE  HOUR  GLASS 

When  a  woman's  golden  hair  begins  to  take  on 

threads  of  silver, 

When  flowers  and  trees  are  budding, 
When  grasses  start  and  birds  are  mating, 
When  the  blood  flows  quickly, 
And  the  breasts  fill  round  and  full, 
When  she  knows  there  are  to  be  no  children,  no 

love, — 
What  shall  the  woman  say  to  herself? 


WOMAN 

Woman  waiting,  always  waiting: 
Waiting  for  the  womb  to  win  release, 
Waiting  for  the  dead  to  be  brought  home, 
Waiting  for  Love  to  come,  for  Love  to  speak, 
Waiting  for  a  letter,  a  face,  a  message, 
Counting  the  still  hours  of  the  night. 
Waiting,  always  waiting:       It  is  hard  to  be  a 
woman. 


[12] 


HUNGRY-HEARTED 

Brown-bosomed  Italian  mother, 
Hold  close  the  tender  babe  upon  your  breast. 
Drink  deep  the  subtle  ecstasy  of  little 
Hands  caressing  your  tired  face. 
Warm  lips  are  drawing  life  and  giving  it. 
Drink  deep  the  subtle  ecstasy, 
And  know  how  hungry-hearted  spinsters  envy 
you. 


[13] 


LONELY  HEART 

Big  world  and  crowds  of  people, 

Yet  none  says :  "Thou  art  all  the  world  to  me." 

In  the  big  world's  crowds 

The  heart  aches  from  loneliness  and  many  voices. 


[14] 


RESTORE  ME 

Brown  Earth,  take  me  and  warm  me; 
Soothe  me,  caress  me,  show  me  thy  beauty. 
Do  not  forsake  me ;  I  have  no  other. 
Brown  Earth,  my  heart  grows  cold. 


[15] 


IT  IS  TIME 


It  is  time  you  came. 
Where  are  you — 
The  other  part  of  me? 

You  who  love  as  I  love, 
Loving  all  of  me, 
You  who  feel  as  I  feel, 
Being  one  with  me? 


[16] 


Kindling 


THE  ABYSS 

The  lips  go  pale  and  falter, 
The  hands  tremble  and  turn  cold, 
The  eyes  quiver  and  see  not, 
The  whole  frame  shakes 
Like  a  mighty  ship  about  to  sink ; 
For  the  eyes  of  Love  seek  mine. 
There  is  strange  silence.     Eternity  yawns. 
Is  it  Love  or  Death? 


[19] 


A  MISTAKE? 

Yesterday  a  man 
With  eyes  like  stars  in  the  night 
Came  and  stood  before  me. 
He  had  lived. 

Nazareth  and  Olivet  were  in  his  bearing. 
He  said,  "Come  now,  come  with  me." 
Yet  I  went  not. 

Does  Love  ever  pass  Love  on  the  journey  with 
out  knowing? 


[20] 


THE  STARRY  NIGHT 


Yes,  leave  me. 
I  was  never  used  to  love. 
Go  your  blithe  way, 
And  look  not  back  at  me. 
The  starry  night  is  over  us. 
Go  swiftly,  singing. 


[21] 


ELEMENTAL 

Being  woman,  have  you  felt  the  surge  of  mighty 

forces 
At  the  little  touch  of  man's  warm  hand  upon  your 

arm? 
And  have  you  once  cast  all  Earth's  teaching  from 

you, 
Saying,  What  else  matters? 


[22] 


Smoldering 


PUNISHED 

Today  I  did  it — 

A  hard  task,  long  put  off. 

I  cut  out  my  heart 

That  throbs  and  is  so  warm. 

I  cut  it  out 

And  put  it  by 

To  wither. 

I  had  to  punish  that  heart. 

It  was  bound  to  sing  and  love. 


[25] 


BETRAYED 

Love  took  me  down  into  the  Bottomless  Pit  and 

left  me. 
I  went,  not  knowing  where,  only  sure  that  Love 

was  leading  .... 
When  I  came  to  the  Sun  again, 
The  face  of  all  the  World  was  changed, 
I  was  old,  and  Love  was  dead — slain  by  his  own 

hand. 


[26] 


ALONE 

One  pressed  his  face  to  mine 

And  held  me  in  his  arms. 

He  smoothed  my  cheek 

And  kissed  away  the  rapid,  burning  tears. 

— I  never  minded  loneliness  before. 


[27] 


MY  LITTLE  FIRE 

It  was  night. 

I  went  to  the  top  of  a  hill 

To  build  a  little  fire  for  love. 

Of  twigs  and  leaves  I  built  it. 

I  fanned  its  feeble  breath 

Till  it  grew  large 

And  the  strong  wind  of  the  world 

Took  it  up. 

I  thought  the  wind  would  help  me, 

But  wantonly  it  blew  my  fire 

Till  there  were  only  ashes. 

I  came  down  the  hill  shivering. 


[28] 


LITTLE  HOUSE 

Yes,  little  house,  I've  come  home. 

Hide  me  from  hard  eyes  that  pierce. 

Shield  me  from  words  that  cut. 

Open  the  windows  to  the  song  bird, 

To  the  clear  breeze  and  the  sun. 

Show  me  the  fragrant  night  and  the  stars. 

And  now  build  a  little  fire 

Where  I  may  read  and  muse. 

Hide  me,  little  house, 

And  let  the  tears  come  as  they  will. 


[29] 


DESOLATE-HEART 

They  took  me  in. 

They  fed  and  warmed  me. 

They  gave  me  their  caresses. 

And  yet  I  am  not  theirs — 

And  they  are  helpless. 

Desolate-Heart  am  I, 

Desolate  and  lonely 

As  the  lone  pine 

On  yonder  hill  against  the  winter's  sky. 


[30] 


Smoke 


MY  LITTLE  CHAIN 

There's  a  little  chain  around  my  neck. 

I  feel  it,  though  none  may  see. 

Some  links  are  made  of  tears 

And  some  of  golden  laughter. 

Is  it  less  to  me  because 

There  are  more  tears  than  laughter? 

If  my  eyes  grow  dim, 

Too  old  for  seeing  beauty, 

I'll  feel  my  little  chain. 


[33] 


THE  RIDDLE 

The  night  is  still, 

The  moon  and  stars  look  down 

In  quiet  joy  upon  the  wondrous  earth. 

The  sea  swells  rhythmically, 

The  warm  air  throbs  and  lives. 

My  eyes  look  out  across  the  sea, 

Over  the  hills,  the  prairies  far  away, 

Up  through  eternity's  soft  starlit  night. 

My  restless  nature,  needing  much  to  satisfy, 

Stirs  me  to  its  turbid  depths. 

I  moan,  stretching  out  my  human,  futile  hands, 

"Oh,  Life,  what  holdest  thou  for  me?" 


[34] 


AN  IRON  RING 

I  wear  an  iron  ring  upon  my  hand 

Made  of  every  time 

I  want  to  touch  your  hand 

And  may  not. 

For  me  there  is  only  the  iron  ring. 


[35] 


LET  ME  GO 

Do  not  come  with  me  now; 

I  am  tired  and  need  to  be  alone. 

I  will  go  away  with  my  unquiet  thoughts, 

Out  into  the  night. 

Let  me  go  alone 

And  cry  my  bitter  cry 

And  see  my  bitter,  barren  life. 


[36] 


THE  BURNING  PATH 

Oh,  when  I  said  my  prayer  last  night 
And  spoke  your  name  to  God, 

Oh,  then  I  knew,  I  knew  Love's  might- 
The  burning  path  I  trod. 

And  now  I  know  the  bitter  woe, 
The  bond  who  would  be  free. 

Mine  is  the  woe  unloved  ones  know 
For  no  one  prays  for  me. 


[37] 


SLIPPING  AWAY 

Oh,  the  fields  are  full  of  flowers 
And  the  sky  is  full  of  stars, 
But  I'm  weary,  sad  and  lonely 

All  the  day. 

And  the  world  is  slipping  away. 
Oh,  the  world  is  slipping  away. 


[38] 


CHILDREN 

Seeing  a  child,  I  always  smile 

And  wish  that  all  the  world  were  children, 

So  I  and  all  the  world 

Might  always  smile  and  so  be  friends. 

Grown-ups  so  often  stare  and  nudge. 

Only  the  children  always  understand. 


[39] 


FAITH 

Blithe  have  I  been  with  you,  Life, 
Blithe  and  light-hearted; 
Now  will  you  fail  me? 

No  child  have  I ; 
No  love  have  I ;  no  kin. 
Frail  is  my  body 
And  my  heart  lonely. 

Blithe  have  I  been  with  you, 
Blithe  and  light-hearted, 
Trusting  you  always. 
Caught  in  the  strife, 
Others  have  faltered, 
Others  strong-hearted; 
I  have  had  faith  in  you, 
Thinking  you  true. 
When  all  was  black 
I  lay  at  your  feet; 
I  kept  my  faith  to  you, 
I  never  doubted. 

[40] 


Blithe  have  I  been, 

Blithe  and  light-hearted. 

I  have  so  loved, 

So  gallantly  trusted, 

Giving  my  all. 

You  cannot  betray  me! 


[41] 


Blaze 


LISTEN 

The  little  leaves  and  all  the  flowers 

Were  telling  you  something  today, 

But  you  would  not  hear. 

The  birds  heard  it, 

So  did  the  children  at  play. 

The  wind  is  blowing  it  in  at  the  window  now. 

Will  you  not  listen? 


[45] 


THE  ROSE 

Comrade,  my  comrade, 

You  know  the  fragrance  of  the  rose? 

You  know  its  strength  in  beauty? 

The  joy  and  warmth  it  gives  rose-lovers? 

You  know? 

And  you  are  like  the  rose. 


[46] 


FAIRER? 

The  Sun  and  Wind  have  kissed  me ; 
The  Grass  and  Wind  caressed  me ; 
The  Dew  and  Rain  have  bathed  me; 
The  Stars  have  set  my  hair  with  jewels ; 
New  Music  from  the  Birds  has  charmed  me ; 
And  the  Silences  have  soothed. 

Do  I  look  fairer  now  to  thee? 


[47] 


AWAY 

Sorrows  came  upon  my  house. 

You  cared;  you  shared, — 

And  oh,  the  difference  to  me ! 

Now  joy  has  come 

I  chafe  and  want  to  tell  you. 

But  oh,  how  long  the  days  till  you  are  here ! 


[48] 


GOOD  NIGHT 

Tonight,  O  friend,  O  youth, 

Tonight  and  every  night 

I  put  my  kiss  upon  your  brow, 

My  kiss  that  reaches  you 

Where'er  you  go,  and  says : 

The  silent  night  befriend  you, 
The  watchful  stars  attend  you, 
Refreshing  sleep  God  send  you, — 

My  kiss  to  keep  you  from  all  harm. 

And  oh,  it  comforts  me  to  know 

Peace  will  be  with  you  when  you  sleep. 


[491 


GYPSY  DAYS 

Green  grasses,  greenery  green; 
Silver  birches,  silvery  sheen; 

Streamlets  running, 

Plowed  fields  sunning, 
All  on  a  bright  spring  day. 

Birds  are  singing,  flowerets  springing, 
Wild  woods  ringing,  glad  thoughts  winging, 

While  the  heart  goes  gypsying  away. 

Glad,  gladsome,  joyous  May! 


[50] 


Smoke  Again 


OLD 

The  cold  rain  blows  outside ; 
The  warm  fire  glows  within; 
But  you  in  the  blinding  rain  and  wind 
Are  not  so  cold  as  I. 

The  gray  sky  looks  down  on  us; 
The  old  hills  frown  on  us; 
But  hills  nor  sky  nor  wind  nor  rain 
Are  half  so  old  as  I. 


[53] 


THE  HOME-CLUTCH 

I  love  this  little  house. 

It  was  here  my  father  died. 

Right  here  he  sat  and  ceased  to  breathe. 

This  little  room  holds  memories  to  stock  a  volume 

brave. 

Here  my  sister  died.     Here  one  was  betrayed. 
Here  I  bowed  my  head  in  lonely  anguish. 
The  house  is  cursed  and  moans. 
And  yet  I  love  it. 


[54] 


A    BONNY    LITTLE   FIRE 

One  was  cold  and  cheerless, 

Roaming  in  the  gloom. 

Dim-eyed,  she  staggered  on. 

Another  wandered  cold  and  weary, 

Not  caring  where. 

Then,  seeing  her  utter  misery, 

He  straightway  built  a  fire, 

And  called  to  her  to  warm  her  heart. 

"Come,  friend,"  said  he,  "I've  built  a  little  fire; 

Come,  feel  its  glow  and  warm  yourself 

Lest  I,  too,  perish," 

And,  oh,  it  was  a  bonny  little  fire! 


[55] 


MY  PRETTY  HAIR 

My  pretty  long  brown  hair, 

My  curling  waving  soft  brown  hair, 

My  hair  with  flashing  glints  of  gold, 

Do  you  forsake  the  sunlight? 

My  pretty  hair,  you  never  seemed  so  fair 

As  now  the  streaks  of  gray  appear, 

That  mark  of  death  and  gloom  and  fear, 

Dull  gray,  the  sign  of  weary  care. 

I  brush  and  stroke  you  fondly, 

My  sunshot  soft  brown  hair. 


[56] 


HOME 

Home  is  where  I  may  weep 
And  no  one  may  see. 
Home  is  where  I  hurt  no  one 
And  no  one  hurts  me. 
I  am  weary  now. 
Let  me  go  home. 


[57] 


DEAD  FAITH 

When  the  child  moved  within, 

Her  woman  heart  bounded  in  mingled  fear  and 

joy- 
She    smiled,    sensing    the    warm    lips    drawing 

milk, — 
And  thrilled  with  life  eternal. 

*     *     *     *     * 

They  laid  the  little  form  beneath  the  earth. 
Her  woman  eyes  were  dull  and  cold. 
She  said,  "There  is  no  God." 


[58] 


O  NIGHT 

O  Night  that  sings  and  croons  to  me, 

0  Wind  that  shouts  and  calls  to  me, 

Where  do  you  hide? 

1  hunt  the  sky  and  clouds  about, 
I  try  to  find  your  fortress  out, 

What  place  you  bide. 

O  Night  that  hides  all  day  from  me, 
O  Wind  that  flits  across  the  sea — 
My  Love  has  died. 

O  Wind,  blow  low  this  hour  for  me, 
Come,  Night,  come  down  and  cover  me- 
What  counts  beside? 


[59] 


WHEN 

When  you  can  see  my  inmost  soul 

And  shudder  not, 

Then,  O  my  Love,  come  close  to  me ! 

When  you  can  scan  my  meanest  thought 

And  sorrow  not, 

Then  give  your  hand  to  me. 


[60] 


MOODS 

Tonight  my  heart  is  filled  with  grief ; 
My  voice  and  breast  are  full  of  sobs  and  tears ; 
And  I  could  beat  my  inner  self 
Against  the  jagged  rocks  of  black  and  bitter  woe 
Till  what  is  I  were  spent  and  gone 
Beyond  the  reach  of  break  of  heart  and  spirit 
pang. 

But  you  are  you  and  understand — 

O  strong-winged  gull  that  flew  this  way  one  day. 


[61] 


EARTH 

0  Earth,  when  my  body  is  weary, 
And  the  life  goes  out  of  my  soul, 
And  I  care  not  for  living  or  dying, 
Or  keeping  my  spirit  whole, 

1  turn  to  you,  the  Great  Mother, 
And  I  put  my  breast  against  yours ; 
"Oh,  take  and  remake  me," 

I  whisper,  "Take  and  remake." 

Then  you  take  me ; 

I  feel  the  warm  earth  life, 

Your  teeming  strength  charges  through- 

Till  I  sleep  and  am  strong; 

And  to  Earth,  the  Great  Mother, 

To  you  is  my  song, 

To  you  is  my  song. 


[62] 


Flame 


INVINCIBLE 

Twice  during  this  little  week 

The  flame  of  life  near  faded  out. 

Twice  I  staked  my  all  and  saw  it  vanish. 

Just  as  it  flowed  away  for  the  last  time, 

Two  flames  burned  up  where  one  had  been. 


[65] 


ADVERSITY 

O  little  hope  that  leads  me  on, 

O  flame  of  faith  in  wind  and  storm, 

You  fail  me  now  ? 

Today  I  am  two  living  flames. 

The  fire  near  quenched  awhile 

Burns  red  more  deep  and  strong 

In  bitter  wind  and  stinging  blast. 


[66] 


BROWN  BIRDS 

Listen!    There's  a  merry  brown  bird 

Wants  to  fly  away, 

Touching  wings  with  you, 

Touching  wings  with  you. 

"Where  does  she  want  to  go?" 

She  wants  to  go  anywhere, 

Anywhere  if  you  will  sing, 

If  you  will  sing. 

O  brown  bird,  be  merry. 

Go  where  she  wants. 

Go  and  sing, 

Go  and  sing. 


[67] 


AN  INVITATION 

Lover  of  the  surging  surf, 
Lover  of  the  sea, 
Lover  of  the  stars  above, 
Can  you  not  love  me? 

Lover  of  the  sun's  glow, 
Lover  of  the  dawn,     i 
I  am  blithe  as  winged  bird, 
I  am  fair  to  see. 


[68] 


MY  BODY 

Oh  glad  am  I  of  a  strong  lithe  body, 
Glad  it  can  move  to  my  will ! 
Oh  strong  is  my  body, 
And  light  is  my  step, 
White  are  my  arms 
And  firm  is  my  flesh : 
I'm  a  child  of  the  air  and  the  sun. 
I  am  light;  I  can  trip.    , 
I  am  strong;  I  can  grip. 
I  can  bend,  I  can  climb,  I  can  run. 
Clear  is  the  eye,  red  is  the  lip. 
I  have  health. 
I  have  wealth. 
I'm  a  child  of  the  sun. 
I  am  strong. 


[69] 


MARRIED 

To  wake  in  the  night 

And  hear  him  breathing,  breathing, 

So  close  and  warm 

Beside  the  person  that  is  I, — 

It  is  so  strange  and  sweet  and  new, 

Like  riding  out  alone  upon  the  sea, 

Like  sitting  on  a  rim  of  moon, 

Fearful  and  ecstatic,  in  the  sky. 


[70] 


TRAMPING 

You  and  I 

And  a  biting  wind, 

A  hungry  day 

And  an  out-door  fire ; 

Nuts  and  apples, 

Maybe  some  corn! 

Do  you  mind  the  taste  of  fire? 

Do  you  mind  the  taste  of  smoke? 


THE  TASTE  OF  FIRE 

Do  you  know  the  taste  of  fire? 
The  wild,  elemental  flavor, 
The  haunting,  wind-scented  savor, 
The  primal,  matchless  fragrance 
Of  food  smoke-scented  with  wood  fire? 
Do  you  know  the  taste  of  fire? 

Do  you  know  the  look  of  fire? 
The  burnt-orange,  red  and  yellow, 
The  living,  leaping  glory 
Of  the  mellow — 

The  blended  orange,  red  and  yellow  ? 
Do  you  know  the  fire  of  sunset, 
Do  you  know  the  fire  of  sunrise, 
Do  you  know  the  fire  of  gypsies, 
And  do  you  know  the  hearth  fire  ? 


[72] 


THE  MIRACLE 

Precious  breath  of  life, 

Small,  marvelous  body, 

Dawning  mind,  strange  little  waking  soul ! 

And  can  we  make  thee  perfect — so — 

Out  of  our  bodies,  at  our  will? 

O  perfect  wonder! 

The  gods  still  roam  the  earth,  for  we  are  gods. 


[73] 


COME 

Come  into  the  flowery  fields 

With  me  tomorrow. 

I  will  make  you  priceless  chains  of  flowers ; 

I  will  ask  the  grass  to  talk  to  you. 


[74] 


SYMPATHY 

The  flowers  all  love  me. 

They  know  when  I  am  sad. 

When  I  go  by  they  lift 

Their  dewy  faces 

To  greet  me  and  bring  me  comfort. 


[751 


THE  SAVIOR 

When  the  mainspring  of  a  life  has  snapped, 

When  the  stars  have  all  gone  out, 

And  the  fragrance  of  flowers 

Hurts  like  the  cut  of  a  knife, 

When  nothing  seems  to  matter, 

It  is  good  to  work. 


[76] 


THE  SLAYER 

You  see,  Dear  Soul  of  mine, 

Every  doubt  is  a  stab 

That  leaves  a  hole. 

How  many  holes 

Can  one  heart  take  from  another 

Before  it  vanishes? 

How  can  you  keep  me  from  doubting? 


[77] 


THE  SADDEST  PERSON 

Sometimes  I  think 

I  am  the  saddest  person 

Alive  in  all  the  world; 

And  when  my  heart  cries  out 

And  says  it  surely  now  will  break, 

I  lift  my  head  and  shake  away  the  tears. 

I  see  that  I  must  smile 

And  laugh  and  play 

Lest  sadness  break  your  heart. 


[78] 


MY  LOVER 

Do  you  know  my  lover's  name? 

It  is  Sleep,  sweet  young  Sleep. 

She  awaits  me  every  evening 

More  faithful  far  than  any  friend. 

She  holds  me  in  her  gentle  arms  at  night, 

Crooning  like  a  young  mother. 

Her  hands  are  soft  as  infants'. 

Her  white  young  bosom  is  for  me  alone. 

Caressingly  she  holds  me 

Through  every  night, 

And  yet  she  never  wearies  me. 

She  frowns  at  Dawn 

And  then  smiles  back  at  me, 

Asking  "Hast  had  enough?" 


[791 


UNMEASURED 

Yesterday  I  loved  you 

With  all  my  strength  and  heart  and  soul, 

With  all  my  waking  and  my  sleeping  self, 

And  knew  that  I  would  love  you  still  the  same 

If  I  were  dead  and  lay 

A  hundred  fathoms  deep  within  the  sea, 

Or  covered  o'er  with  earth  a  mountain  high. 

1  loved  you  then  with  all  the  love  I  had, 
But  now  today  I  love  you  more  than  that — 
I  love  you  with  a  love  scarce  dreamed  of  yester 
day, 
And  marvel  at  the  ceaseless  miracle. 


[80] 


GOD-MAGIC 

God  of  my  long  seeking, 

God  found  in  bitterest  pain, 

I  turn  to  You  now  in  my  happiness 

To  tell  You  that  again 

I  am  caught  up  in  Your  love, 

In  the  love  of  You  and  of  life, 

That  the  old  glory  still  holds  me, 

That  Your  God-magic  is  on  me  again, 

God  I  had  looked  for  so  long, 

God  I  find  over  and  over  again ! 


[81] 


Coals 


YOUNG  HEART 

I  am  Young  Heart — 

Shall  I  tell  you  my  secret? 

I  am  Young  Heart  and  can  never  grow  old. 

My  body  is  like  a  green  bow : 

It  bends  but  it  will  not  break. 

My  heart  is  an  old  violin ; 

On  it  the  Winds  of  Life  play, 

Making  me  younger  all  the  while. 

My  child  eyes  dance 

And  my  young  feet  trip  the  Great  Highway. 

I  am  Young  Heart. 

Shall  I  tell  you  my  secret? 


[85] 


WARM  HANDS 

They  are  calling  boys  to  battle, 

Calling  men  to  slay  each  other, 

Where  the  horses  snort  and  rear 
And  the  smell  of  blood  of  mortals 
And  the  haunting,  curdling  Hell- fear 
Make  them  drunken  savage  devils, 
Make  them  worse  than  maddened  cattle. 

They  are  calling  men  to  battle, 
Boys  with  warm  hands  and  white  foreheads,- 
Love  and  life — then  the  death  rattle. 
They  are  calling  men  and  boys 
In  the  springtime  of  the  year, 
In  the  may-time  and  the  mating. 

Let  me  hold  your  hand  the  closer — 
Some  are  calling,  some  are  killing — 
Are  you  here?     Closer,  closer! 
Are  you  here? 


[86] 


THE  SCYTHE 

I  am  the  Scythe. 

All  winter  have  I  hung  in  the  barn, 

Fearing  the  wet  and  the  rust. 

Now  I  feel  my  edge, 

And  I  long  for  the  Spring — 

Spring  and  Summer! 

I  wonder,  Is  the  new  tender  grass 

Yet  started  under  the  snow? 

I  hunger  for  it  now, 

With  a  blade  sharp  and  unflinching. 

All  Winter  have  I  heard 

Its  gentle  swish,  swish, 

Sighing,  sighing,  as  it  falls. 

None  awaits  the  Spring — and  the  tender  grass — 

As  do  I,  for  I  am  the  Scythe. 


[87] 


SIX  O'CLOCK 

Tonight  when  I  went  out  to  walk, 

I  saw  the  people  coming  home  from  work ; 

And  as  I  met  them  one  by  one, 

Their  steps  were  lagging 

And  their  faces  gray. 

The  air  was  balmy  with  the   faintest  tinge  of 

Spring; 

The  grass  was  waking;  life  filled  everything. 
I  said,  "To  be  free  from  routine — 
Office  work — is  good 
When  Spring  is  in  the  air." 
Then  feeling  in  my  heart 
What  they  had  suffered  through  the  day, 
I  was  pierced  through 
With  stabbing  thoughts  to  know 
What  lifted  up  my  heart — this  Spring — 
Was  that  which  made  them  listless, 
Made  them  shirk  and  hate  their  work ; 
It  was  the  very  thing 
Made  caged-up  men, 
Boys,  girls  and  housed-in  women 
Detest  and  hate  good  honest  work. 
And  so  I  fell  to  mourning : 
[88] 


It  is  so  good  to  stand  erect 

And  breathe  and  smile  and  feel  the  sun ; 

It  hurts  my  heart  to  see  them,  limp  and  pale, 

Come  trudging  home  when  work  is  done. 


[89] 


YOUR  FOOTSTEP 

I  smoothed  my  hair 

And  changed  my  dress 

And  made  my  mood  reposeful  for  your  coming. 

I  wanted  you  to  see  me  as  you  like  to  see  me  best. 

Then  as  the  hour  grew  late 

And  you  were  still  away, 

Black  thoughts  of  danger  met  and  seized  me : 

"What— Oh,  God!— what  should  I  do 

If,  like  our  neighbor  who  was  drowned  last 

week, 
He  never  came  again !" 

And  then  once  more  I  hurried  to  the  window 
And  pressed  my  face  against  the  pane, 
And  stayed  there  dumb  with  dread  and  fear 
Until  I  heard  your  footstep  on  the  walk. 


[90] 


MY  GARDEN 

This  Sunday  night,  upon  the  porch, 

I  sit  and  fold  my  hands 

And  feel  my  garden  growing. 

A  little  sprinkle  of  warm  rain 

Falls  lightly  on  the  thirsting  leaves. 

The  corn  gives  back  a  pleasant  sound; 

The  vines  send  out  a  fragrance 

Strange  and  pungent  as  old  myrrh  ; 

The  blossoms  swell, — 

And  all  lift  up  their  heads  as  if  in  thanks. 

Indoors  my  lover's  voice  is  heard 
In  laughter  with  the  children. 
'Twould  be  so  easy  to  be  glad 
If  I  could  once  forget  the  war — 

Homes  like  ours — wrecked; 
Gardens  like  this — laid  waste; 
Books  and  pictures^ — burned; 
Children — hungry  and  orphaned ; 
Boys  like  ours — groaning,  bleeding; 
Men  like  mine — dead,  dead. 

I  wonder:  Do  other  women  find  it  hard  to  live 
today  ? 


COURAGE 

What  should  I  do 

If  when  your  eyes  met  mine, 

Their  friendliness  grew  cold, 

Then  swiftly  moved  away? 

What  should  I  do  ? 

Not  weep  nor  grieve — not  I. 

But  I  would  smile  and  look  at  you, 

Smile  as  the  mother  smiles 

At  silvering  hair, 

Smile  as  good  women  smile  at  death, 

Smile  as  one  hearing  the  first  earth 

Re-echo  in  the  new-made  grave. 


[92] 


CHURCH 

I  go  in  through  the  arched  high  doorway 

Down  the  dim  cool  quiet  aisles, 

Life  holds  me  by  the  hand, 

I  bow  my  head  in  reverence  and  love. 

The  organ  rolls  out  its  glory, 

My  soul  thrills  and  quickens, 

God  is  revealed  in  perfect  joy  and  beauty. 

The  warm  blood  mounts, 

I  am  remade. 

I  never  remember  coming  out  of  church. 


[93] 


THE  FULL  EAR 

Watching  in  the  dawn  light — 
Hear  the  waving  corn ! 
Sitting  lone  and  helpless 
While  a  woman's  spirit  goes — 
The  green  corn  ripples 
And  the  dawn  wind  blows. 
Watching  while  the  soul  goes 
Alone,  afar,  outborne, — 
Oh,  the  chilling  dawn  wind, 
Oh,  the  waving  corn! 


[94] 


REST 

Wind  across  the  ocean, 

I  must  sleep. 

I  will  lie  here  in  the  grass ; 

You  can  soothe  me  as  you  pass, 

Wind  from  off  the  deep. 

Will  you  cool  my  burning  brow, 

Stay  my  hands  and  teach  them  how 

To  take  delight  in  rest? 

Stop  my  feet 

And  still  my  thoughts 

From  a  feverish  quest? 

Wind  of  ocean, 

Help  me  rest! 

Soothe  me,  help  me  face  anew 

The  touchy  world 

And  be  my  best. 


[95] 


COMING  HOME 

You  say  you're  coming  home. 

Was  "home"  the  word? 

Home  to  me,  did  you  say? 

Ah,  I  had  almost  come  to  disbelieve 

That  it  had  ever  been — our  love. 

So  long  the  months  can  be, 

So  poignant  was  my  loneliness. 

I  had  grown  so  used  to  being  left  alone, 

I  almost  thought  it  all  a  dream — 

Our  being  here  together. 

I  did  not  know  how  deep  had  been  the  silent  ache 

Until  I  read  your  words  today: 

"I'm  coming  home  regardless  of  the  work." 


[96] 


THE  CORN 

The  rain  is  over 

And  I  must  hoe  the  corn. 

The  tassels  soon  will  be  showing ; 

The  reddening  silk  will  peep  out  of  the  ears, 

And  the  milk  will  flow  into  the  kernels. 

Each  stalk  is  like  a  maiden 

Coming  to  womanhood. 

The  sewing  and  the  other  work 

Will  have  to  wait. 

The  growing  corn  needs  the  hoe 

To  let  air  and  sun  and  moisture 

Down  to  the  roots. 

Then  the  kernels  will  fill 

Full  of  sweet  white  milk. 


[97] 


I  WONDER 

Do  people  find  it  very  strange 

When  they  put  coal  into  a  range 

That  it  becomes  alive? 

And  do  they  marvel  that  the  black  and  dead 

Can  come  to  life  and  be  so  red? 


[98] 


COMPANY 

They  came; 

They  stayed  to  dinner  and  to  tea; 

We  talked  and  read  aloud 

And  sat  about; 

Then  talked  some  more. 

Once  or  twice  I  thought : 

It  is  so  pleasant  to  have 

Folks  come  to  see  us; 

We  must  have  them  oftener. 

Then  in  a  while  they  went — 
Out  into  the  frosty  night, 
Beneath  the  stars, 
Crunching  the  crisp  snow, 
To  take  a  train. 

We  closed  the  doors  and  windows, 
Banked  the  fires  for  a  long  winter's  night, 
Put  out  the  lights 
And  thought :  How  good  to  be  alone  again ! 


[99] 


Ashes 


THE   WIND 

Wind  among  the  floating  clouds, 
Wind  among  the  trees, 
Tell  me  of  your  journey's  end 
To  the  far-off  seas. 


[103] 


EVERY    NIGHT 

Every  night  I  put  my  arms  around  my  neck 

And  smoothe  my  hair 

As  anyone  who  loved  me  dear  might  do. 

And  when  I'm  nearly  off  to  sleep 

I  say  a  prayer 

And  wish  that  every  child  might  have 

Some  one  to  love  her  too. 


[104] 


THE    FIRE-FLY 

Fire-fly,  Fire-fly, 

Let  me  see  your  lantern. 

Will  your  light  go  out  in  rain? 

I  will  let  you  go  again; 

I  won't  cause  you  any  pain. 

Fire-fly,  let  me  see  your  lantern. 

Do  you  carry  gas  or  oil? 

Have  you  battery — lightning  coil  ? 

Is  it  wood  or  coal  you  burn? 

Did  it  take  you  long  to  learn? 

Tell  me  where  you  keep  your  matches. 

Are  you  made  of  bits  of  moon? 
Is  your  lantern  on  your  shoon? 
Won't  you  come  again  till  June? 
Please  to  let  me  see  your  lantern. 


[105] 


THE    BATH 

Water  on  my  eyes  and  mouth, 

Water  on  my  ears, 

Water  on  my  neck  and  brow — 

I  am  bathing  in  the  sun — 

Water  in  my  arm-pits, 

Water  on  my  arms, 

Water  on  my  feet  and  legs — 

Morning,  let  me  splash  and  play, 
Morning,  keep  the  day  away — 
Water  is  such  fun ! 


[106] 


THE   ELECTRIC   LIGHT 

When  it  is  night 

And  I  go  in  the  house, 

I  pull  a  little  cord 

Or  press  a  button 

To  make  it  light. 

Then,  for  an  instant,  while  the  place  is  dark 

And  still  as  any  mouse, 

I  hold  my  breath  and — Hark ! 

A  little  click,  a  spark — 

And  all  the  room  is  bright. 

But  how  it  works, 

Or  whence  it  comes, 

Or  whether  God  or  man 

Has  made  its  magic, 

I  do  not  know  nor  can 

I  find  the  meaning  of  the  miracle. 


[107] 


A    SEED 

A  little  seed  put  in  the  ground — 
There  is  no  sign  of  life. 
The  seed  seems  dead  as  dead  can  be; 
If  one  should  cut  it  with  a  knife, 
He'd  see  how  dead  a  seed  can  be. 

A  little  water,  sun  and  air, 

Some  magic  from  the  soil  ; 

Then  something  at  its  very  core 

Begins  to  move 

And  it  is  dead  no  more. 

It  feels  the  sun; 

It  sips  a  drink; 

It  almost  seems  to  stretch  and  think; 

And  from  the  soil  and  sun  and  air 

It  draws  whatever  they  will  share 

To  make  a  radish,  carrot,  beet, 

Or  something  else  as  good  to  eat. 


[108] 


SMOKE 

It  is  so  cold  out-doors  today 

There's  not  a  single  child  at  play, 

And  from  the  house  across  the  way 

Rises  a  thin  wisp  of  smoke. 

It  is  so  quiet  in  the  house — 

What  was  that — Was  it  a  mouse? 

I  think  it  is  a  year  since  anybody  spoke. 

The  cat  sleeps  on;  she  never  woke. 

There  is  a  splendid  icicle  outside — 

My  sled — But  it's  too  cold  to  slide. 

The  only  thing  that's  moving  is  the  smoke. 

Where  does  smoke  come  from? 

Where  does  it  go? 

If  I  could  follow  some  smoke 

Before  it  got  lost  or  melted  or  broke — 

There !     There !     Oh,  where  does  it  go  ? 


[109] 


MY   A  B  CS 

It  is  so  wonderful 

To  put  together 

The  funny  little  letters 

To  make  a  word; 

And  then  again 

The  funny  little  words 

To  tell  a  thought,  and  bring 

A  kindling  of  the  eye, 

A  flush  upon  the  cheek, 

To  let  one  know 

The  sudden  alchemy  of  heart  and  mind. 

It  is  so  wonderful 

And  I  have  marvelled  much 

Since  learning  A  B  CS. 


[1 10] 


BLEST 

What  have  I  done 

And  who  am  I 
That  I  should  have 

Such  good  supply 
Of  gladness  in  the  sun? 


[ill] 


NOW  YOU  GUESS 

Snow  and  ice  and  running  water — 
Which  is  the  wonderfulest  of  these  three? 
She  of  the  window-pane,  Jack  Frost's  daughter, 
She  is  most  wonderful  to  me. 

To  draw  the  patterns  on  the  pane 
Perhaps  she  takes  a  pencil  from  the  fairies. 
Who  knows  ?=— Maybe  she  simply  moves  her  cane 
Across  the  glass  to  make  some  leaves  and  grass. 
Some  say  it  is  a  magic  brush  and  paint  she 

carries, 

Over  seas,  over  hills,  over  prairies, 
Upon  her  journeys  in  the  frosty  winter  night. 
And  then  again,  they  say,  perhaps  she  blows  her 

breath, 

Like  mimicking  the  wind 
As  it  comes  whirling,  curling, 
Across  the  frothing  billows, 
Across  the  rolling  hill-tops, 
And  the  bare,  flat  plain. 

[112] 


How  does  she  make  the  patterns  on  the  pane? 

I  do  not  know  the  secret.     None  the  less- 

I  have  tried  and  tried  again 

To  make  it  plain. 

Now  it  is  your  turn  to  guess. 


[1131 


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